As I'm sure many of you have heard by now, Baby Lump is no longer a man of mystery.� First of all, yes, he's a (little) man (or "eo" man, as my dad would say).� Although I definitely plan on posting a more detailed story about his birth once we all get a little more settled in, I figured I'd write up a quick little summary of the highlights of the past two days, mainly using pictures:

First, the cold, hard facts:

Full Name: Emmett James Vaughan

Birth date/time: Friday, January 16, 2009 - 11:47 a.m.

Weight: 7 lbs. 15 oz.

Length: 22 inches (long and lanky)

Length of Labor: 12 hours (7 at home, 5 at the hospital)

Apgar Scores: 8 and (then) 9

Now, some highlights:

• I survived without succumbing to the mercy of meds/epidural!� (Although I will admit there were a couple of times when I almost caved.)


• James was an amazing coach and the main reason I was able to pull off childbirth naturally.


• I popped out the muffin in the best room on the labor/delivery floor (jacuzzi tub, view of the Charles River, LARGE).


• Emmett pooped all over me right after we met, much to my delight (I'm guessing he was determined not to hit that 8 lb. mark).


• Emmett was born on the coldest day of the year (thus far), and experienced his first snowstorm during his third day of life.


• The nurses and doctors who took care of Emmett and me at MGH were fantastic.


• Emmett handled the circumcision like a total champion.


• Overall it was a very smooth and quick delivery/recovery!

And now, the pictures you all probably scrolled down to the bottom first to see:

[caption id="attachment_558" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Emmett's Apgar Test Moments after Birth"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_563" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Mom, Dad & Baby Lump Emmett"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_564" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Grandma Lucy"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_565" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Grandpa Mac"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_566" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Father and Son"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_568" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Old Man Emmett / Emmett the Worm"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_569" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Mom & Her Little Man"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_570" align="aligncenter" width="703" caption="A Perfectly Wrapped Baby Burrito"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_571" align="aligncenter" width="609" caption="Mom, Dad & Baby"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_572" align="aligncenter" width="705" caption="Emmett on the Go"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_573" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Nana"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_574" align="aligncenter" width="677" caption="Aaaaaah ... Home Sweet Home"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_575" align="aligncenter" width="713" caption="Grandio & Nana "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_576" align="aligncenter" width="690" caption="Oliver Investigating the New Hooman"][/caption]

Oven Timer: Off

Maximum Days Until We Meet Baby Lump: -2

[caption id="attachment_322" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Definitely not a "Cake Wrecks" cake."][/caption]

First of all, let's all be thankful my baby shower cake wasn't shaped like a baby butt or a preggo lady and didn't picture a naked woman giving birth.� Okay, moving on ...

[caption id="attachment_326" align="alignright" width="242" caption="Nina won the candy-diaper-poop game."][/caption]

If you ever need to plan an event in the Detroit area, you should employ the event planning expertise of my sister, Adrienne.� Now, I realize I've never been to one of these before, but she, my other sister Lauren and my mother threw me an absolutely awesome baby shower this past weekend in Pennsylvania with my family and some close family friends.

Although I did have to suck it up for the "Make-Pamela-Guess-the-Baby-Food-Flavor" game, everyone had a really fun time.� (Expectant mothers please note - steer clear of "macaroni and cheese" and "lamb" flavored baby foods.� I nearly vomited.)

[caption id="attachment_319" align="alignleft" width="226" caption="Butt Paste endorsement"][/caption]

Other, less torturous games were a hoot.� I must say, it was monumentally entertaining to peer across the room and see my grandmother sniffing and tasting the contents of a baby's diaper during the "Which candy bar is in that diaper?" game.� And my sister, Lauren had guests winning oddly appropriate prizes such as baby corn and baby dills by guessing the correct prices of items like breast milk storage bags and butt paste.

[caption id="attachment_321" align="alignright" width="242" caption="practicing my strolling"][/caption]

I must say, James and I are definitely a lot more prepared for Baby Lump's arrival after being showered with so many baby gifts.� Guests will be delighted to know I will be tossing all the gift receipts and making no returns or exchanges at Babies "R" Us - such tasteful gift-givers they were!

To sum it up, I couldn't have imagined having a better shower, and I'll never subject Baby Lump to meat-flavored baby foods.

For more baby shower pictures, check out the Little Baby Lump Flickr page in the Family set.

Oven Timer: 28 weeks

James just brought me home this beautiful bouquet of flowers :o)